BY MATT LINDSEY
North Country This Week

CANTON — Canton Central School students rallied recently in an attempt to get the district to offer some sort of student activity program. Two students, Brooke Larrabee and Tanner Cloce, spoke on behalf of those students Thursday night via Zoom at the Canton Central Board of Education meeting.

Sports, music, and other extracurricular activities have suffered during the pandemic as gathering restrictions have prevented groups from assembling. Still, students are hopeful for some sort of social program to lift spirits and provide an outlet.

Speaking about the rally, CCS Superintendent Ron Burke said, “the students made me proud, not just as a superintendent, but certainly as a proud Golden Bear alum. They were extraordinarily respectful, they were organized, they were to the point.”

Larrabee described her busy, yet fun-filled life of school-related activities she had over a year ago, before the pandemic.

“I miss it more than anything,” she said. “Now when the bell rings at 2:30, I go home. And sit on my couch, do some homework, go to bed. And then do it all over again. This is our reality and nobody likes it.”

She said she knows of peers struggling with their mental health.

Athletic Director Bill Porter is working with Section 10 on a plan to provide students with opportunities for activities.

“This is our last chance as high school students and we’re running out of time,” Larrabee said.

Fellow student Tanner Close spoke more closely about student mental health.

He said that physical activity is important to the mental health of students and noted that many students have participated in activities such as art of music their entire lives, and now they are lost.

“I don’t have all the answers,” Cloce said. “But I know that student-athletes and students of the arts mental health has been negatively affected throughout this whole COVID journey and me and Brooke I want to be able to work hard for our teammates and just our classmates as well.”

Burke thanked and praised the students for speaking at the meeting.

“If this is the future of America, we are in pretty darn good shape folks,” he said.

No action was taken at the meeting.